Description
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Sunday, March 8 • 2:30-4:30 PM • Prospect Park Boathouse & Lincoln Road Playground
Free with RSVP | $6 per powder packet
Join the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, Prospect Park Alliance, the nonprofit that sustains Brooklyn’s Backyard, and Mixed Masala to celebrate Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colors, in Prospect Park! This celebration of the start of spring involves playing with colored powders (gulal) and setting bonfires (Holika Dahan). This joyful afternoon also features live music and storytelling performances, as well as the traditional Hindu artmaking of Rangoli.
- 2:30 pm: Musical performance at the Boathouse led by Indofunk Satish
- 3:15 pm: Bonfire, storytelling, and Rangoli artmaking at the Boathouse
- 4:00 pm: Parade from the Boathouse to the Lincoln Road Playground
- 4:15 pm: Powder-throwing on the playground!
2:30 PM: Musical Performance (The Boathouse)
The event will begin with a performance led by Indofunk Satish, a pioneering trumpeter who has brought his unique fusion of Indian classical music, jazz, and funk to a wide range of musical endeavors, leading several NYC-based ensembles and supporting acclaimed artists from Brooklyn Raga Massive to Bruce Springsteen. He is known for playing an extremely rare trumpet called “The Firebird,” which has a half-length trombone slide that allows him to play the traditional South Indian music he grew up with.
3:15 PM: Holi Storytelling and Bonfire (The Boathouse)
Join Indian dance arts educator Aeilushi Misty to learn about Holika Dahan and create Rangoli motifs with vibrant flower petals. Rangoli is a traditional Indian art form where intricate patterns are created on the floor or ground using materials like colored rice, dry flour, colored sand, or flower petals. Holika Dahan, or the “burning of Holika”, celebrates Prahlada, who is known as a saintly figure and devotee of Lord Vishnu. Prahlada’s father, a King, and his sister, Holika, who was believed to be safe from the dangers of fire, sought to kill Prahlada. The King put Prahlada on the lap of Holika as she sat on a fire and Prahlada prayed to Vishnu to keep him safe. Holika then burnt in the fire while Prahlada was left unhurt. Lord Vishnu then arrived in the form of a human-lion to rescue Prahlada, which is celebrated as the Hindu festival of Holi.
4:00 PM: Parade from the Boathouse to Lincoln Road Playground
We’ll make our way over from the bonfire to Lincoln Road Playground for the last part of the celebration: powder-throwing!
4:15 PM: Powder Throwing (Lincoln Road Playground)
A highlight of Holi is powder throwing, a joyous, centuries-old Hindu tradition where people smear and toss colored powders, known as gulal, to celebrate the arrival of spring, friendship, and the triumph of good over evil. It symbolizes unity, breaking down social barriers, and showering others with love and color.Note: If you plan to take part in the powder-throwing – which we highly recommend! – you can purchase a packet for $6 below and pick it up on the day of the celebration at the Lincoln Road Playground, beginning at 4 pm. We recommend one packet per person, and that you wear white clothing and expect to get messy. We ask that all powder-throwing be kept in the playground to help contain the starch from getting into the park’s landscapes.
Free to RSVP, $6 per powder packet.